Graffiti Challenge #62

Last year I came across a documentary on graffiti while looking for something to watch on Netflix. At that time I was struggling with making a connection with my middle school students during their time in the art room. I watched the documentary, and to my surprise, became inspired by the colors and lines. I started working on my own graffiti style drawings and turned what I had learned into an art lesson for my middle school students. I have continued working on my graffiti skills (only on paper) and have learned so much with this process. At the end of last year I decided to challenge myself to do 200 graffiti drawings. The purpose of doing this is to demonstrate to students how much of a difference practice makes. This year I started doing an art battle with my students where I post a different word every couple of weeks and they draw that word. I also do a drawing of the word and give it to the winner of the battle as part of their prize. They also get to pick out some art supplies like sharpie markers, mechanical pencils, click erasers, etc. For this drawing I used Prismacolor and Touch markers. I prefer the touch markers at this point.

Abstract Watercolor Painting Lesson

I got the idea for this lesson from a pin on Pinterest and thought I would do it with my eighth grade students for their first art project with me this year. It looked easy to do and I thought it would be a good way to break the ice and get them warmed up with a low-pressure project. 

Supplies:

12x18 white drawing paper

black ink

straw

watercolor paints & brushes

Step 1: Place drops of ink on your paper (one at a time) and blow it around the paper using a straw. The amount of air you push through the straw will determine how your ink moves around. I tried to vary my air pressure as much as possible. Allow the ink to dry before moving onto the next step. 

Step 2: Using watercolors, add color to the white parts of the paper. I used my ink splots as guides for some of my colors and for others I let them stop randomly. The purpose for me doing this lesson with my students is to let them experiment with watercolor paints. I will show them different painting techniques prior to them starting with the watercolors and then have them try out the different techniques.

Step 3: Continue adding colors until your paper is filled, leaving no white spaces. I decided to use only a few different colors for my painting. I think I will encourage my students to pick a few colors but will allow them to use as many as they want since the purpose is to have them experiment.

Overall I'm happy with the way the project example turned out. However, I think it would have looked better if I used liquid watercolors instead, so the colors would be more intense.